UPDATE: Second confirmed COVID-19 case in Newcastle, linked to St Pius X High School case

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A second case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in Newcastle; a close contact of the teenager announced yesterday.

The District is continuing to investigate the source of that case’s infection. This latest case is a male in his 20s.

Hunter New England Local Health District is urging anyone who attended the following venues at the specified times to immediately self-isolate and seek testing:

  • Bennett Hotel, Hamilton – Friday 31 July, from 5.30pm to 10.00pm
  • Greenroof Bar and Restaurant, Hamilton – Friday 31 July, from 10.00pm to 12 midnight
  • Wests New Lambton, Sunday 2 August, from 5pm to 7.30pm
  • Sushi Revolution, Hamilton on Saturday 1 August, from 12noon to 1.00pm

The venues have been notified and are undergoing cleaning. Contact tracing is underway.

Hunter New England Health also urges any patrons who visited the following venues at the times specified to be alert for symptoms, and if any develop to get tested and self-isolate immediately:

  • Queens Wharf Hotel – Saturday 1 August, from 9.30pm to 11.00 pm
  • Sydney Junction Hotel, Hamilton – Saturday 1 August, from 12 midnight to 1.30am Sunday 2 August
  • McDonald Jones Stadium – Sunday 2 August, 7:30pm to end of game, Newcastle Jets match

Dr Kat Taylor, Public Health Controller for Hunter New England Health’s COVID-19 response said that Hunter New England Health is still working to identify any further contacts or venues visited by both individuals, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

All close contacts will be notified and required to isolate for 14 days.

“It is vital people in the community continue to present for testing if experiencing symptoms to limit the spread of the virus.

“I encourage everyone to follow directions they receive about home isolation and quarantine and maintain COVID safe practices of physical distancing, coughing or sneezing into their elbow, and regularly washing their hands,” she said.

With the identification of additional cases in the Newcastle area, The District is expecting an increase in the demand for testing.

“To ensure we can best serve the community during this time, we have enhanced our local testing capability.

“In addition to expanding our call centre capacity and the number of phone lines available to improve booking wait times, we will extend hours and capacity at a number of local clinics.

“However, please be patient if visiting a clinic or calling for a booking. We have thousands of testing opportunities throughout the course of today and will see people as quickly as possible.”

For a complete list of COVID-19 testing clinics and booking details, please visit the NSW Health website.

Earlier: St Pius X Student tests positive for COVID-19 (August 5, 2020)

St Pius X High School at Adamstown will be closed tomorrow and Friday for deep cleaning after a student tested positive for COVID-19.

Hunter New England Local Health District is urging anyone who attended the school on Monday to be on the lookout for COVID-19 symptoms and get tested immediately should any respiratory symptoms or fever occur.

The school has been notified and will be closed to allow contact tracing and a thorough cleaning to occur.

The positive case – a male teenager – caught the Number 26 school bus (Hamilton to Adamstown) to school on Monday 3 August at 8.20am.

All people on the bus at this time will be required to isolate for 14 days and seek testing.

He is also a team member of the Newcastle Jets under 15’s representative squad, which played a soccer match against the Stanmore Hawks at Arlington Oval in Dulwich Hill on Saturday 1 August.

The teenager’s teammates and the members of the opposing team are considered close contacts and will be required to isolate for 14 days.

All close contacts of the teenager will be notified and are required to isolate for 14 days.

STATEMENT FROM THE CATHOLIC-DIOCESE OF MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE:

St Pius X High School Adamstown has today been advised of a confirmed case of COVID-19.

The school was notified of the confirmed case by NSW Health late this afternoon, Wednesday 5 August 2020. Students had already left the school grounds when the Catholic Schools Office was advised.

Parents and carers of all students at the school have been notified of the positive diagnosis today.

The school is working with NSW Health to identify ‘close contacts’ of the person with COVID-19. NSW Health will conduct contact tracing and will notify close contacts. Students and staff have been asked to self-isolate until receiving further advice from NSW Health or a communication from the school.

The safety and wellbeing of our staff and students is of paramount importance and we will continue to work closely with NSW Health to ensure all necessary health advice is adhered to.

The school is temporarily closed for the next two days whilst a thorough environmental cleaning to NSW Health standards is undertaken. Further information will be provided on the re-opening of the school over the weekend.